How to Move a File in Linux

In this Linux tutorial, we’re going to learn how to move files using the terminal.

Maybe you've created a file in the wrong folder. Or downloaded something that you now want to organize into the correct directory. Well, Linux makes that super easy using a simple command called mv.

The mv Command

The mv command stands for "move". It’s used to move files from one place to another—or even rename them!

Basic Syntax

mv source_file target_directory

That’s it! Let’s walk through a real example.

Example 1: Moving a File to Another Folder

Let’s say you have a file called notes.txt in your home folder, and you want to move it into a folder called Documents.

mv notes.txt Documents/

If the move is successful, there will be no message. That’s normal!

notes.txt is now inside the Documents folder.

Example 2: Moving and Renaming a File

You can also move a file and rename it at the same time.

mv notes.txt Documents/my_notes.txt

File has been moved and renamed to Documents/my_notes.txt

Example 3: Using Absolute Paths

If you’re not in the same folder as the file, use absolute paths:

mv /home/user/notes.txt /home/user/Documents/

What If the File Doesn’t Exist?

If you try to move a file that doesn’t exist, Linux will give you an error:

mv random.txt Documents/

mv: cannot stat 'random.txt': No such file or directory

Make sure the file name is correct and that you're in the right directory.

Pro Tips

Use ls to list files before you move them.
Use mv -i to prompt before overwriting existing files.
Use mv -v to see what’s happening (verbose mode).

mv -iv notes.txt Documents/

Recap

To move a file in Linux, just use mv followed by the file name and the destination folder. That’s it!

How to Move a File in Linux